Springfield has sixth homicide of the year after a 39-year-old man found stabbed at Maple and Union streets

Robert Rizzuto/The RepublicanThe sixth Springfield murder victim of 2011 was found by a passerby on the corner of Maple and Union streets after being stabbed in an apartment at 96 Maple Street, pictured at left.

David Acevedo lll, 24, was fatally shot on Jan. 26 near 49 Riverton Road in the Pine Point neighborhood. Within 12 hours, Police charged 18-year-old city resident Jerel L. Brunson with murder. A second suspect, 21-year-old Daniel J. Rosa, turned himself in to Capt. Dillon at the rear of police headquarters a short time later. Both men pleaded innocent and are awaiting further court dates.

On Jan. 28, 23-year-old Darin Negron was fatally shot in the city’s Old Hill neighborhood. He was found near the back porch of a home on Melrose Street and was pronounced dead around 1 a.m. at Baystate Medical Center. No arrests have been made in that case.

Pedro Osorio, 24, became the city’s third murder victim on Feb. 12. Osorio was inside a van with the shooter in front of 40 James St., near Mason Square. Dillon said the two men may have had an argument prior to the shooting. No arrests have been made in the case.

On Feb. 20, Joel Echols, 45, of Springfield, was killed after he was allegedly stabbed in the chest by his wife, Beverly Echols, at their home on 26 Vinton St. Echols pleaded innocent to the charge of murder on Feb. 22 and is being held without right to bail.